There are people who have strong opinions about what is a fair compensation for amateur models doing sexy photo shoots that are conducted by hobby photographers.
Before discussing what pricing should be, etc. it is important that we define some aspects before moving forward.
What is an Amateur Model?
An amateur model is a woman that is the middle ground between a pretty girl with zero experience and a professional model. Although an amateur model has experience with being in front of the camera, she will not have as much time or experience as a model that is under the professional umbrella. This is a model that is not represented by an agency, etc. She enjoys having her picture taken, but this is not what she does for a living.
What is a Hobby Photographer?
This is a photographer that is not consistently paid for their work. For the most part, they are photographing concepts due to the enjoyment of the craft and an occasional publication submission.
What is considered a Sexy Photo Shoot?
A sexy photo shoot is one that consists of artistic nudes or lingerie themed photos. This is not a shoot that calls for a woman to look sexy in an evening gown, etc. It is also not about pink shots, but a sexy, artistic rendering of a concept derived by a client or the photographer himself.
What is fair?
Now that we have defined the basic terms of this quandary, let us tackle it head on. Universally it has been deemed acceptable for an amateur model to be paid $50 per hour for her participation in a sexy photo shoot. There are hobby photographers that are most likely twisting their faces right about now. But let’s take a deep breath. I know that many of you feel that if you are not being paid, that you should not be paying a model; and especially not one that is not a professional. Well, you have the choice of seeking out a model that is willing to shoot TFP; but there is a reason why you chose the model that requires payment.
It is perfectly ok for a model to ask for payment given that she is giving up the rights to her image in regards to the shoot and she must handle hair and make-up (in most cases) herself. Not to mention, many of you had your disappointments with models that work solely for TFP. Models that work for payment tend to be, on average, more experienced and more professional. You will be left with stunning pictures for your budget class. It is a win-win for both parties involved.
On the other side of the spectrum, I also know that there are models that are dropping train cases thinking that the unveiling of $50 per hour is going to be the muddying of the model payment tier. Dear darlings, be aware that this minimal fee will do nothing to the fees that professional models can charge. As an amateur you in no way can command the same wages and/or perks of a professional or super model. Anyway, the gigs paying $50 are in another league than the ones paying professional wages. There is no overlap, hence no damage done to the industry.
In the video above I go into more detail about this and point out how supermodels are also working for these low rates sometimes and why it makes good sense for them.
For us photographers, this is a clear pointer how we can attract the right talent within the budget that we have. So check out the video and please give it a thumbs up!
I wish you good light!
Michael